"When I first told my classmates in Rishi Valley I was from the Middle Andamans, they used to say, 'Where??' Now all of them want to visit!"

- BINDU DURAIKANNU

"My House is in Betapur Village. It takes 8 hours by bus to go to Port Blair. I never dreamt one day I would be in Mumbai, that too studying in Xaviers!"

- JINU GEORGE

"My mother used to take care of me before I left the Andamans. Now I take care of her."

- PRATIMA KUMARI

"In Nicobar we feel forgotten by people on the mainland. The foundation showed us it's not true."

- MATRENA MARTIN

"In the Andamans life is beautiful, but sheltered. Rishi Valley exposed me to people from different cultures and communities. Now I want to go out into the world"

- RUKHSAR RASHEED

"Life in Kashmir is beautiful but sometimes sad. Here schoolwork is tough but there is no sadness."

- SARHAN SHOWKAT

"In winter, I really miss home, the snow, the kangri... then I do pottery under the Parijat tree in school and I forget everything!"

- SHEEBA ASHRAF

"When I went back to Kashmir for my first vacation after joining Sahyadri, I told my friends all about school - going on treks, learning the guitar, doing real life experiments outside with nature. They were very happy and slightly jealous!"

- YOUSRA IQBAL PADDER

"When I see my classmates in Sahyadri – they all have come from different parts of India – then I realize how big this country is, and how lucky I am!"

- ARBEENA JAN

"I couldn't talk to the teachers freely in my school in Kashmir. In Sahyadri the teachers are like my older brothers and sisters!"

- ASIF MANZOOR

"In Sahyadri school everybody is the same. There is no big and small. Teachers, students. workers in the school – everybody's the same!"

- MUQUADAS WANI

"I will make friends from every part of the country at my new school in Panchgani! I'm also so excited to learn new forms of dance!"

- LAIJA NAOREM

"I want to hear stories about the places where the other students come from! I will tell them all about my home in Imphal!"

- CHINGLEMBA TOKPAM

"I'm so excited to travel outside my state for the first time! I am going to play lots of football with my new friends!"

- LHAINEINENG VAIPHEI

"When I got the news I had been selected my mother and father cried and laughed! I was so excited, I couldn't sleep all night!"

- TABITHA NEMNUNHOI BAITE

"I found Panchgani on the India map. It's so far from Imphal! I know i will love it there because they have computers and Cricket!"